Error-controlled adaptive mixed finite element methods for second-order elliptic equations

In this contribution, we deal with a posteriori error estimates and adaptivity for mixed finite element discretizations of second-order elliptic equations, which are applied to the Poisson equation. The method proposed is an extension to the one recently introduced in [10] to the case of inhomogeneous Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. The residual-type a posteriori error estimator presented in this paper relies on a postprocessed and therefore improved solution for the displacement field which can be computed locally, i.e. on the element level. Furthermore, it is shown that this discontinuous postprocessed solution can be further improved by an averaging technique. With these improved solutions at hand, both upper and lower bounds on the finite element discretization error can be obtained. Emphasis is placed in this paper on the numerical examples that illustrate our theoretical results.     

Error estimates for mixed finite element approximations of nonlinear problems

The finite element methods have proved a very effective tool for the numerical solutions of nonlinear problems arising in elasticity and other related engineering sciences. Relative to linear elliptic theory, little is known about the accuracy and convergence properties of mixed finite element approximation of nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems. The nonlinear problems are much more complicated, since each problem has to be treated individually. This is one of the reasons that there is no unified and general theory for the nonlinear problems. In this paper, the application of the mixed finite element method to a highly nonlinear Dirichlet problem, which arises in the field of oceanography and elasticity is studied and new results involving the error estimates are derived. In fact, some of the results and methods to be described in this paper may be extended to more complicated problems or problems with other boundary conditions. As a special case, we obtain the well known error estimates for the corresponding linear and mildly nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems.     

Parallel simulations of three-dimensional cracks using the generalized finite element method

This paper presents a parallel generalized finite element method (GFEM) that uses customized enrichment functions for applications where limited a priori knowledge about the solution is available. The procedure involves the parallel solution of local boundary value problems using boundary conditions from a coarse global problem. The local solutions are in turn used to enrich the global solution space using the partition of unity methodology. The parallel computation of local solutions can be implemented using a single pair of scatter–gather communications. Several numerical experiments demonstrate the high parallel efficiency of these computations. For problems requiring non-uniform mesh refinement and enrichment, load unbalance is addressed by defining a larger number of small local problems than the number of parallel processors and by sorting and solving the local problems based on estimates of their workload. A simple and effective estimate of the largest number of processors where load balance among processors is maintained is also proposed. Several three-dimensional fracture mechanics problems aiming at investigating the accuracy and parallel performance of the proposed GFEM are analyzed.     

A scaled boundary finite element method applied to electrostatic problems

The scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) is a novel semi-analytical technique, combining the advantages of the finite element and the boundary element methods with unique properties of its own. In this paper, the SBFEM is firstly extended to solve electrostatic problems. Two new SBFE coordination systems are introduced. Based on Laplace equation of electrostatic field, the derivations (based on a new variational principle formulation) and solutions of SBFEM equations for both bounded domain and unbounded domain problems are expressed in details, the solution for the inclusion of prescribed potential along the side-faces of bounded domain is also presented in details, then the total charges on the side-faces can be semi-analytically solved, and a particular solution for the potential field in unbounded domain satisfying the constant external field is solved. The accuracy and efficiency of the method are illustrated by numerical examples with complicated field domains, potential singularities, inhomogeneous media and open boundaries. In comparison with analytic solution method and other numerical methods, the results show that the present method has strong ability to resolve singularity problems analytically by choosing the scaling centre at the singular point, has the inherent advantage of solving the open boundary problems without truncation boundary condition, has efficient application to the problems with inhomogeneous media by placing the scaling centre in the bi-material interfaces, and produces more accurate solution than conventional numerical methods with far less number of degrees of freedom. The method in electromagnetic field calculation can have broad application prospects.     

The CIP method embedded in finite element discretizations of incompressible fluid flows

Quite effective low‐order finite element and finite volume methods for incompressible fluid flows have been established and are widely used. However, higher‐order finite element methods that are stable, have high accuracy and are computationally efficient are still sought. Such discretization schemes could be particularly useful to establish error estimates in numerical solutions of fluid flows. The objective of this paper is to report on a study in which the cubic interpolated polynomial (CIP) method is embedded into 4‐node and 9‐node finite element discretizations of 2D flows in order to stabilize the convective terms. To illustrate the capabilities of the formulations, the results obtained in the solution of the driven flow square cavity problem are given. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Petrov–Galerkin finite element methods with a hinged test space for singularly perturbed problems

In this paper we introduce finite element methods of Petrov–Galerkin type for the approximate solution of two-point boundary-value problems for singularly perturbed, second-order, ordinary, linear differential equations. We write down Petrov–Galerkin methods on a uniform mesh which have asymptotic error estimates, as the mesh size tends to zero, whose magnitude is independent of the singular perturbation parameter. This is in marked contrast to standard finite element methods which do not possess such a property on a uniform mesh. For these, typically, the error on a fixed uniform mesh blows up as the singular perturbation parameter tends to zero. This robust behaviour of these Petrov–Galerkin methods for singularly perturbed problems is achieved by choosing trial spaces of standard piecewise polynomial type, while the test spaces consist of hinged piecewise polynomials. We consider self-adjoint and non-self-adjoint two-point boundary-value problems with Dirichlet boundary conditions. We define hinged test spaces for both types of problem. We then introduce a number of sample problems and we present numerical solutions of these sample problems using a Petrov–Galerkin method with the appropriate hinged test space.     

An adaptive finite element approach for frictionless contact problems

The derivation of an a posteriori error estimator for frictionless contact problems under the hypotheses of linear elastic behaviour and infinitesimal deformation is presented. The approximated solution of this problem is obtained by using the finite element method. A penalization or augmented‐Lagrangian technique is used to deal with the unilateral boundary condition over the contact boundary. An a posteriori error estimator suitable for adaptive mesh refinement in this problem is proposed, together with its mathematical justification. Up to the present time, this mathematical proof is restricted to the penalization approach. Several numerical results are reported in order to corroborate the applicability of this estimator and to compare it with other a posteriori error estimators. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A posteriori error estimates and adaptivity for finite element solutions in finite elasticity

Methods for a posteriori error estimation for finite element solutions are well established and widely used in engineering practice for linear boundary value problems. In contrast here we are concerned with finite elasticity and error estimation and adaptivity in this context. In the paper a brief outline of continuum theory of finite elasticity is first given. Using the residuals in the equilibrium conditions the discretization error of the finite element solution is estimated both locally and globally. The proposed error estimator is physically interpreted in the energy sense. We then present and discuss the convergence behaviour of the discretization error in uniformly and adaptively refined finite element sequences.     

A-posteriori error estimates for the finite element method

Computable a-posteriori error estimates for finite element solutions are derived in an asymptotic form for h → 0 where h measures the size of the elements. The approach has similarity to the residual method but differs from it in the use of norms of negative Sobolev spaces corresponding to the given bilinear (energy) form. For clarity the presentation is restricted to one-dimensional model problems. More specifically, the source, eigenvalue, and parabolic problems are considered involving a linear, self-adjoint operator of the second order. Generalizations to more general one-dimensional problems are straightforward, and the results also extend to higher space dimensions; but this involves some additional considerations. The estimates can be used for a practical a-posteriori assessment of the accuracy of a computed finite element solution, and they provide a basis for the design of adaptive finite element solvers.     

双层介质声传播问题的标准解及有限元解

文章通过双层介质中的声传播问题,研究了有限元方法在水下声场计算中的应用。基于传统的Galerkin方法推导出水下声场的有限元方程,采用四节点四边形单元离散求解物理域,可选择辐射边界条件、DtN (Dirichletto Neumann)非局部算子、完美匹配层来处理出射声场,得到有限元解。为了验证该有限元模型,需要高精度的参考解。水平不变均匀介质中的声传播问题存在解析解,但双层介质问题不存在解析解。因此,对于双层介质声传播问题,使用波数积分法推导出标准解。分别考虑了有限深度和无限深度双层介质两种情况,并进行了数值模拟。数值结果表明,文章所提的有限元模型与参考解非常吻合。此外,还发现当某号简正波的本征值非常接近割线时,简正波模型KRAKEN难以准确计算该号简正波的本征值,从而声场计算结果存在明显误差;但是有限元方法不需要计算本征值,所以当KRAKEN模型出现此类问题时,有限元方法仍能给出准确的声场计算结果,表明有限元方法在普适性方面优于简正波方法。     

A comparative study of the boundary and finite element methods for the Helmholtz equation in two dimensions

The performance of the boundary and finite element methods for the Helmholtz equation in two dimensions is investigated. To facilitate the comparison, the system of linear equations arising from the finite element formulation is reduced to a smaller system involving the boundary values of the unknown function and its normal derivative alone. The difference between the boundary and finite element solutions is then expressed in terms of a difference matrix operating on the boundary data. Numerical investigations show that the boundary element method is generally more accurate than the finite element method when the size of the finite elements is comparable to that of the boundary elements, especially for the Dirichlet problem where the boundary values of the solution are specified. Exceptions occur in the neighborhood of isolated points of the Helmholtz constant where eigenfunctions of the boundary integral equation arise and the boundary element method fails to produce a unique solution.     

A finite element Laplace transform solution technique for the wave equation

A technique is described for the solution of the wave equation with time dependent boundary conditions. The finite element solution accompanied by the numerical Laplace inversion process seems to be an efficient procedure to treat such problems. The programming involved is straightforward in the sense that numerical Laplace inversion routines can be directly used as a time integration procedure after obtaining standard finite element differential equation solutions in the transformed domain. Some results are presented for one- and two- dimensional applications, such as wave propagation in longitudinal bars and wave propagation in harbours.     

An adaptive procedure for eigenvalue problems using the hierarchical finite element method

An adaptive procedure for the solution of the generalized linear eigenvalue problem within the hierarchical finite element method is described. The problem of finding for a given discretization, an upper limit eigenvalue that is accurate within a prescribed tolerance is especially studied. An error estimator is presented and a recomputational scheme for improved solutions is proposed. A numerical example is included.     

A finite element method of viscoelastic stress analysis with application to rolling contact problems

A completely numerical method for steady state linear viscoelastic stress analysis is presented by means of the finite element approach. Numerical representations of the measured viscoelastic constitutive relations are used. This method is developed to obtain steady state solutions to mixed boundary value problems in which the character of the boundary conditions at a point changes with time. Such problems cannot be handled by direct application of the correspondence theorem. A numerical example of viscoelastic sheet rolling is presented along with an experimental verification of the solution by photo-viscoelastic observations.     

Using fundamental solutions in the scaled boundary finite element method to solve problems with concentrated loads

This paper introduces a new technique for solving concentrated load problems in the scaled boundary finite element method (FEM). By employing fundamental solutions for the displacements and the stresses, the solution is computed as summation of a fundamental solution part and a regular part. The singularity at the point of load application is modelled exactly by the fundamental solution, and only the regular part, which enforces the boundary conditions of the domain onto the fundamental solution, needs to be approximated in the solution space of the scaled boundary FEM. Examples are provided illustrating that the new approach is much simpler to implement and more accurate than the method currently used for solving concentrated load problems with the scaled boundary method. In each illustration, solution convergence is examined. The relative error is described in terms of the scalar energy norm of the stress field. Mesh refinement is performed using p-refinement with high order element based on the Lobatto shape functions. The proposed technique is described for two-dimensional problems in this paper, but extension to any linear problem, for which fundamental solutions exist, is straightforward.     

Differentiation of finite element approximations to harmonic functions (EM field computation)

Derivatives of finite-element solutions are essential for most postprocessing operations, but numerical differentiation is an error-prone process. High-order derivatives of harmonic functions can be computed accurately by a technique based on Green's second identity, even where the finite element solution itself has insufficient continuity to possess the desired derivatives. Data are presented on the sensitivity of this method to solution error as well as to the numerical quadratures used. The procedure is illustrated by application to finding second and third derivatives of a first-order finite-element solution.<>     

Effective stress-based finite element error estimation for composite bodies

This paper presents a discretization error estimator for displacement-based finite element analysis applicable to multi-material bodies such as composites. The proposed method applies a specific stress continuity requirement across the intermaterial boundary consistent with physical principles. This approach estimates the discretization error by comparing the discontinuous finite element effective stress function with a smoothed (C⁰ continuous) effective stress function for non-intermaterial boundary elements with a smoothed pseudo-effective stress function for elements which lie on the intermaterial boundary. Examples are presented which illustrate the effectiveness of the multi-material error estimator. The pointwise pseudo-effective stress and the L₂ norm of the estimated stress error are seen to converge with mesh refinement, while Zienkiewicz and Zhu's error estimator failed to converge for elements on the intermaterial boundary due to the physically admissible stress discontinuities that exist on the intermaterial boundary.     

Element by element a posteriori error estimation of the finite element analysis for three-dimensional elastic problems

An a posteriori error estimation method for finite element solutions for three-dimensional elastic problems is presented based on the theory developed by the authors for two-dimensional problems.¹ The error is estimated for the finite element solutions obtained using three-dimensional 8-node elements with a linear interpolation function in an arbitrary hexahedron. The method is successfully applied to three-dimensional elastic problems. In order to decrease computing time and memory use, the error is estimated element by element. The major difficulty in the element-wise error estimation technique is satisfying the self-equilibrium condition of applied forces, especially in three-dimensional problems. These forces are mainly due to traction discontinuity on the element boundaries. The difficulty is circumvented by employing an element-wise optimal procedure. It is also shown that a very accurate stress solution can be obtained by adding estimated error to the original finite element solutions.     

Free vibration and buckling analysis of laminated composite plates using the NURBS-based isogeometric finite element method

An isogeometric finite element method based on non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) basis functions is developed for natural frequencies and buckling analysis of thin symmetrically laminated composite plates based upon the classical plate theory (CPT). The approximation of the solution space for the deflection field of the plate and the parameterization of the geometry are performed using NURBS-based approach. The essential boundary conditions are formulated separately from the discrete system equations by the aid of Lagrange multiplier method, while an orthogonal transformation technique is also applied to impose the essential boundary conditions in the discrete eigen-value equation. The accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed method are thus demonstrated through a series of numerical experiments of laminated composite plates with different boundary conditions, fiber orientations, lay-up number, eigen-modes, etc. The obtained numerical results are then compared with either the analytical solutions or other available numerical methods, and excellent agreements are found.     

A finite difference-Galerkin finite element solution of compressible laminar boundary-layer flows

A finite difference-Galerkinfinite element method is presented for the solution of the two-dimensional compressible laminar boundary-layer flow problem. The streamwise derivatives in the momentum and energy equations are approximated by finite differences. An iterative scheme, due to the non-linearity of the problem, in conjunction with the Galerkin finite element method is then proposed for the solution of the problem through the boundary-layer thickness. Numerical results are presented and these are compared with other numerical and analytical solutions in order to show the applicability and the effectiveness of the proposed formulation. In all the cases here examined, the results obtained attained the same accuracy of other numerical methods for a much smaller number of points in the boundary-layer.